- Cat-related accidents can be truly horrific.
As every cat owner knows, the little furballs can be destructive. They might push glasses off the table, shred your couch, or relentlessly bully the dog.
Or they might shatter your skull, snap your spine, and leave you screaming in a pool of your own blood.
We’re not exaggerating, either. That’s exactly the nightmare scenario that befell Chris Rowley.
The 59-year-old professional musician was descending the stairs in his home when his playful, young cat jumped at his legs. Rowley lost his balance and tumbled down the staircase.
During his fall, he sustained injuries paramedics would later say resembled those of a severe car crash victim. However, the worst was yet to come.
His injuries left Rowley unable to move and reach his phone. All he could do was lie helpless and bleeding on the floor — until his wife returned from work half a day later.
Meanwhile, his cat kept kneading his chest to get his owner to get and play.
Fortunately, Rowley survived his ordeal. He has a long way to go to full recovery, but at least he’s alive.
Oh, and they’re keeping the cat.
A Horrible Few Seconds
Rowley’s accident happened on Sunday, October 23. On the day, he was home alone as his wife had just left for her shift at a children’s care facility.
The professional musician and vocalist was coming down the stairs when his cat decided it was time to play. So, the hairless sphinx kitty called Eric Morecambe (named after a British comedian) lunged at Rowley’s feet.
“It jumped onto my leg and I lost my footing and went down 14 stairs and ended up at the bottom,” Rowley recalled to the Mirror.
Well, he recalled what he could remember.
“I can’t remember much, just falling fast — it was quick and it was over within seconds,” he said.
In those few seconds, however, Rowley sustained horrendous injuries. He said doctors are still finding the full extent of the damage, but just the list of the immediately obvious injuries is enough to make you cringe.
As he bounced down the staircase, Rowley cracked his skull, broke a bone in his neck, received two spinal fractures, and snapped nine ribs (each in multiple locations). Additionally, he tore his lungs and began bleeding internally.
Well, he was also bleeding externally. The man didn’t initially realize he’d hurt his head — until he saw the blood pooling underneath him.
As a horrific cherry on top of this sundae of pain, Rowley found himself almost completely immobilized.
“I couldn’t get up, I physically couldn’t get up. It’s the hardest sensation — it’s almost like claustrophobia, you can’t get out, you can’t physically get anywhere or do anything,” Rowley mused.
‘I Couldn’t Stand the Screaming’
As he couldn’t move, Rowley wasn’t able to reach his phone and call for help. Not that it would’ve done him much good, as he said his phone was dead at the time.
All he could do was lie down and bleed.
“I was pretty much there for the best part of 14 hours. My partner works nights and it happened early to late evening and there was no one else in the house,” said Rowley.
He was obviously screaming for help (and also because he was in agony) but nobody could hear him. Nobody, except Eric Morecambe.
This isn’t some inspirational story about the cat going to fetch help, though. Instead, it sat on Rowley’s chest and began kneading his fractured ribs.
You ever think cats are a bit psycho?
Finally, at 10 a.m., Rowley’s wife Jackie returned home.
“I normally get home at about 8.30 a.m. but that day I got held back and I didn’t get back until about 10,” she said. “I opened the door and heard him screaming and saw the blood.”
She immediately called the emergency number. Fortunately, the first responders were quick to act and an ambulance was in front of their home within minutes.
“I think I went into shock. When the paramedics came, I left them to it because I couldn’t stand the screaming,” Jackie recalled.
The Long Road to Recovery
Luckily, there is a sort of happy ending to this story. Rowley was taken to the hospital and he is recovering.
That said, the paramedics had to pump an absolutely hilarious cocktail of painkillers into Rowley just to peel him off the floor. Considering his injuries, though, that’s understandable.
Additionally, Rowley won’t be back on his feet — never mind frontlining a concert — any time soon.
“They say it will be six to 12 months until I’m back on my feet. I’m on a trial now because of the seizures. I won’t be great for another 12 months,” Rowley said.
Still, he is recovering, no matter how slowly. Rowley also doesn’t bear a grudge against his cat.
“The cat’s absolutely fine,” he said.
“The cat’s adorable and he’s only young — I don’t take any umbrage to that. It’s just one of them things. It could have happened anyway.”
In any case, if you are a pet owner, let Rowley’s case serve as a reminder to always double-check under your feet before you start going down the stairs.